Master Program Applied Geosciences
Master Thesis

Information on thesis

You start to develop a topic for your master thesis after the second semester, usually in close collaboration with a working group at the Department of Geosciences or with one of the cooperating research institutes. The topic should deal with a current problem, which is not yet fully documented in literature. In the 3rd semester Research Seminar, the thesis` topic should be clarified at the latest. The fourth semester is dedicated to thesis` work. Under the guidance of a supervisor, each student conducts an independent scientific project.

The thesis can be carried out on field studies, laboratory experiments or projects outside the university, for example in cooperation with the industry. Parts of the master thesis are literature research, data preparation and interpretation, modeling and simulation (optional), and finally writing the report.

The Master Thesis is evaluated by two reviewers, with the primary reviewer typically serving as the thesis advisor. In a concluding colloquium, the student presents and defends his/her work. The colloquium lasts about 45-60 minutes.

Check List

Find a topic and specify during the Research Seminar (3rd semester)
Find a supervisor (external supervision possible, then usually a colleague from the Geosciences Department serves as the 1rst reviewer)
Find 2 evaluating supervisors (only teachers of Dept. GEO, but from different research groups)
60 CP including the module "Research Seminar" required before starting
Submit the application for approval of the Master Thesis (s. Downloads and Links) electronically to the Examination Office (zpa-fb5@uni-bremen.de)
Once the application has been processed, students will receive a letter of admission by mail from the Examination Office
Duration of the Master Thesis: 24 weeks
Extension: upon application only possible once for 6 weeks (s. Links and Downloads)
Submission of the Master Thesis exclusively as a PDF version on a suitable data carrier (USB stick). Attachments in other media formats are permitted (e.g., video files). Please remember the filled form Declarations (s. Links and Downloads)
reviewers reports must be submitted within a maximum of 8 weeks (zpa-fb5@uni-bremen.de)
Arrange the colloquium date with your supervisors, reserve a room (consultancy for study affairs and career perspectives)
2 weeks before: register at the examination office (zpa-fb5@uni-bremen.de) for the colloquium (s. Links and Downloads)
Colloquium: bring to the colloquium the form Colloquium Protocoll (s. Links and Downloads)
Failed? The master thesis can be retried once with a different topic.

Learning Outcomes, Targeted Competencies

The student can develop a geoscientific question in form of a project under the guidance of a supervisor
The student indipendently performs the typical processes of a scientific work, like literature research, data collection and -interpretation
The student can present, summarize and discuss her/his work clearly in written form considering the criteria of good scientific practice
The student can present scientifically and defend her/his results in a colloquiuma